4670K + H100i Temp issues

[fonzler]

Hi All,

After following the LTT YouTube channel for a long while, I've finally decided to build a PC based on some of the information from the videos.

This is not my first build, but it is the first build that I have seriously considered overclocking. Specs are below:

CPU: i5-4670K 
Cooler: H100i (using Arctic Silver 5)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z97MX-Gaming 5 (BIOS rev. F3)

RAM: 2x 4GB Kingston HyperX Fury DDR3-1866
Storage: 840EVO 256GB and WD Green 2TB

PSU: RM750

Case: 350D

OS: Win 8.1

(Graphics card is pending)

 

To cut to the chase, I am experiencing problems with my CPU temps. At stock frequencies/voltages, it is idling at ~33C and jumps up to almost 80C when running Intel Burn Test or Prime 95. The system will boot with the CPU at 4.2Ghz@1.2V, but will rocket up to 90C under full load (so I promptly hit the stop button on IBT). For reference, ambient temps are about 22C. Turning the fans on the H100i up to max seems to make this process ever so slightly slower. As far as I can tell (or at least from what Corsair Link is telling me), the pump also seems to be working (@~2200RPM).

I had thought that the problem was poorly applied thermal grease, so I cleaned, reapplied and reseated the cooler. I am using the vertical line method as recommended by Arctic Cooling and making as sure as I can to seat the cooler straight on to the CPU. I have now repeated this process 3 times with no discernible effect and am starting to get quite frustrated.

 

So I am wondering, what's the deal? Do I just have a 'bad' CPU or cooler? Or is there something I may be doing wrong?

 

[Enderman]

some people recommend putting some small washers between the backplate and the motherboard so that the block is tighter on the CPU

[zapsyou]

Has well is just that hot, I had similar temps with my 4770k and h100i

I would recommend de-lidding drops about 10-20 degrees but you'll lose your warranty and might wreck your cpu

[Timothy11]

I would...

1. Turn off the computer
2. Detach the fans
3. Turn on the computer brieflly (if you leave it running like this for too long you could damage your system)
4. Listen for the pump (I have the H110 and can here it running)
5. If you can hear the pump forget everything I have said and reconect fans

If you can not hear the pump claim a warranty on your cooler.

 

Why I think your pump is not working.

I your pump was not working the cpu at idle would heat up the water in the waterblock, then the heat would be conducted along the water pipes where it you be removed by the radiator. ( this process would not be efficent and would only be able to keep up with a small amount of heat). This would explain the high temperatures when under load.

 

Alternatively you could attach the stock cooler and check running temperatures to determine if it is the cpu or the cooler that is at fault.

[NUFCThomas]

m7 4670k under full load gets about 50-60° at 4.2ghz on a h80i so it is not just haswell being hot

[fonzler]

Has well is just that hot, I had similar temps with my 4770k and h100i

I would recommend de-lidding drops about 10-20 degrees but you'll lose your warranty and might wreck your cpu

I must confess I did consider it, but I'm not sure I want to run the risk of taking a blade to my processor.

 

I would...

1. Turn off the computer
2. Detach the fans
3. Turn on the computer brieflly (if you leave it running like this for too long you could damage your system)
4. Listen for the pump (I have the H110 and can here it running)
5. If you can hear the pump forget everything I have said and reconect fans

If you can not hear the pump claim a warranty on your cooler.

 

Why I think your pump is not working.

I your pump was not working the cpu at idle would heat up the water in the waterblock, then the heat would be conducted along the water pipes where it you be removed by the radiator. ( this process would not be efficent and would only be able to keep up with a small amount of heat). This would explain the high temperatures when under load.

 

Alternatively you could attach the stock cooler and check running temperatures to determine if it is the cpu or the cooler that is at fault.

I gave what you said a try and I believe the pump is working as I can hear a mechanical noise and the noise of moving liquid once I have disconnected the fans. It's fairly quiet and I'm not sure how loud it's meant to be though.

I also connected the stock cooler and...to be honest I'm not seeing much of a difference between it and the H100i - idle temps 33-37C and load temps a bit over 80C. If anything, it took a bit longer to heat up than the H100i.

I am now wondering if I just spent $100 on a big fancy liquid stock CPU cooler...

 

[zapsyou]

@fonzler, I de-lidded using the vice methods seems safer but its still terrifying

[fonzler]

I'm really confused as to what is going on with my computer at the moment: it's totally out of line with results I've seen elsewhere on the internet.
Is there anything else I could potentially be missing? Or is there really such a huge variation in the temps of Haswell processors?

[ProKoN]

I'm really confused as to what is going on with my computer at the moment: it's totally out of line with results I've seen elsewhere on the internet.

Is there anything else I could potentially be missing? Or is there really such a huge variation in the temps of Haswell processors?

 

 

its prolly just a bad mount if the pump is running and fans are at 100% under load.

 

we see lots of people with 100i issues on the forum. 99% of the time its a bad mount.

 

some people shim the backplate for a better mount, as was suggested earlier.

 

ignore deliding references. this is not something you suggest for people.

 

a 240mm aio cooler like the 100i should perform significantly better than stock cooler under the same ambient conditions.

 

keep a close eye on voltages when stressing haswell.  many programs like ibt overvolt due to adaptive voltage settings.

[Faa]

Your problem is arctic silver. I might have tried over 20 applies with my H100i - it just never performed like it should. AS5 is just too thin and H100i's really have a soft pressure so you kinda want to use thicker paste like noctua nt-h1. I got it right from the first try with nt-h1.

[fonzler]

some people recommend putting some small washers between the backplate and the motherboard so that the block is tighter on the CPU

 

 

its prolly just a bad mount if the pump is running and fans are at 100% under load.

 

we see lots of people with 100i issues on the forum. 99% of the time its a bad mount.

 

some people shim the backplate for a better mount, as was suggested earlier.

 

ignore deliding references. this is not something you suggest for people.

 

a 240mm aio cooler like the 100i should perform significantly better than stock cooler under the same ambient conditions.

 

keep a close eye on voltages when stressing haswell.  many programs like ibt overvolt due to adaptive voltage settings.

 

 

Your problem is arctic silver. I might have tried over 20 applies with my H100i - it just never performed like it should. AS5 is just too thin and H100i's really have a soft pressure so you kinda want to use thicker paste like noctua nt-h1. I got it right from the first try with nt-h1.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I will head out to the hardware store in the morning to see if I can find some washers. I will let you know how it goes.

I did have concerns with the backplate being a bit loose, but I suppose I wanted to give Corsair the benefit of the doubt.... 

I'll try another thermal compound if the cooler is still giving me grief after this...

[fonzler]

Well, I tried the washer thing and I'm happy to report that there was an improvement. 
The CPU is still idling around 30C, but seems to top out at 66C when I stress it at maximum level in IBT (still only at stock clocks for the moment).
Perhaps this is not as low as I was hoping for but it is a significant improvement. Do you think this is perhaps still too high?

 

For the moment, I'm putting it down to the start of summer in my part of the world and the thermal compound not yet having time to cure. Only time will tell.